About

MicroGrants gives $1000 grants for low-income people of potential to invest in their lives. The grants are designed to help people increase their income either through small business development or getting and retaining stable employment. We believe in eliminating poverty through work!

Investments are usually made in three areas: education, small business development, and transportation.

Education

Education grants are used for short term training programs such as a Certified Nursing Assistant training course, or to pay for expenses not covered by traditional financial aid.

In 2015, 36% of our grants funded education

After the grant, 99% of interviewed education related recipients have either completed or are on track to complete their indicated academic program.

Here are some of our Partner Agencies

MicroGrants’ work is informed by certain guiding principals:

Wealth accumulation, not debt accumulation, is the way out of poverty.
The inspiration for MicroGrants came from the micro-lending programs of 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus. But since many low-income people in the US are already burdened by debt, MicroGrants gives grants rather than loans.

Keeping overhead low means more grants! MicroGrants works with existing community assets to avoid duplication of services and to allow the maximum possible percentage of donations to go towards grants. On average, 85% of spending went to the giving of grants.

Collaborating with Partner Agencies is key. The advantage of working with reputable nonprofits is that they already have trusting relationships with the recipients. That relationship is essential to picking the right persons, mentoring them, holding them accountable and evaluating their success. It also allows MicroGrants to serve many different populations with different needs in a culturally competent way.

Giving in your own community empowers your neighbors! MicroGrants gives most grants in the Twin Cities, but does have a small chapter in Naples, FL. MicroGrants believes it is key for local money to stay local, so the Florida chapter is completely funded by restricted donations that come from Florida, and the Twin Cities chapter is funded with Twin Cities money. This model can be replicated across America because every area has people with generous donors and local “people of potential” who could use the investment as a springboard. If you are interested in starting a chapter in your area please email info@microgrants.net.

A Brief History

“Somewhere in the mid- to late-twentieth century a handful of social entrepreneurs in widely separate parts of the world made a discovery that led to a radical conclusion about poor people. It attracted scant applause and even less visibility at the time. Their names included Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh, Pancho and Maria Otero of Bolivia and Joe Selvaggio of Minnesota. Poor people with ambition, they said, poor people willing to dig in for a second chance, can be trusted. It didn’t matter whether they were poor in Tanzania or India, South America or in south Minneapolis. They might live in the bleakest poverty in Africa or without wheels or credit in America.They are still worth a chance. If they make it, we all benefit.” – Jim Klobuchar, from the preface in our book, MicroGrants, It’s Working.

Inspired by Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus, MicroGrants was founded in 2006 by Joe Selvaggio, also founder of Project for Pride in Living. But rather than micro-LOANS through banks in Bangladesh, MicroGrants give cash GRANTS through existing ‘partner agencies’ who are already working with low-income ‘people of potential’ here in the Twin Cities.** MicroGrants are not given for needs or emergencies, but for opportunities to get work, keep work or create work, moving individuals closer to their financial independence. MicroGrants has a small staff and gives on average 85% of its donations directly to motivated people in our communities. How can MicroGrants operate with such a low overhead? Because these like-minded ‘partner agencies’ are already working to boost people out of poverty, and they do the selecting, coaching and mentoring of the grantees. MicroGrants simply does the fund raising and the giving of grants. Since 2006, MicroGrants has boosted more than 4000 individuals closer to their self-sufficiency.

**There are currently two other MicroGrants Chapters (Chicago & SW Florida) started by volunteers who raise their own funds and distribute grants through local partner agencies. It’s a unique and effective model that can boost people to work in any community.

Meet the Team

Don Samuels – Chief Executive Officer

Don immigrated from Jamaica in 1970 to study Industrial Design in New York. He spent 30 years in the toy industry as an R&D executive, with major manufacturers and owner of a design/invention studio. He graduated, with a Master of Divinity degree, from Luther Seminary in 2001. Don evolved from community activist, in his Jordan Neighborhood, to become a Minneapolis council member for three terms until his run for mayor in 2013.

Don co-founded the Hope Collaborative to showcase school leaders from across the country who had closed the achievement gap. Don also cofounded the PEACE Foundation which became the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ). NAZ recently won a $28.5 million federal grant to educate low-income children in North Minneapolis. Among his many City Council achievements, Don initiated the Ban the Box legislation to help ex-offenders gain employment; This eventually became statewide law. His leadership, as Public Safety Chair, led to 7 consecutive years of double-digit crime reduction. Don now serves on the board of Minneapolis Public schools, Twin Cities Rise, Alafia Place, Rock ‘n Read, The Youth Coordinating Board and is a past board member of Meet Minneapolis, The Hub and Teach for America. Don is married to Sondra Hollinger Samuels, CEO of the NAZ. They live in the Jordan Neighborhood of North Minneapolis with their two young daughters. Their adult daughter and son live in New York City.

Kristine Barstow – Internal Operations Manager

Kris is the day-to-day link between MicroGrants and our partner agencies. She reviews grant applications, writes grant checks, manages our accounting operations, and interfaces with our external accountants and auditors. Kris’ professional experience is both wide and deep. Her 20 years at AAA Daily Labor gave her a keen sense for the challenges that low income people face to earn a living wage.

Melissa Deutsch – Executive Assistant

Melissa joins MicroGrants as Executive Assistant to Don Samuels. She has been a strong performer in all aspects of office management and administration in the private sector. Melissa maintains MicroGrants’ social media and website. She provides administrative support for all MicroGrants’ boards and committees.

Meet The Board

Omar Akbar

Omar Akbar is an investment banker at Greene Holcomb Fisher. His role includes structuring. negotiating and advising clients on buy-and–sell-side M&A transactions ranging in size from $5 million to $1 billion. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and LLM International Economic Law from New York University School of Law. Omar also serves on the board of Intermedia Arts. He is an avid Ping-pong player. He and his wife Ilse have two young children.

Chuck Garrity

Chuck has worked in the investment and insurance fields for over four decades. “It is easy to be a fan and follower of Joe Selvaggio, because his ideas are good – and they work. MicroGrants — helping people of potential to move up the “stairs of success” with a high efficiency of fund use and measurable results — is attractive to my wife, Arlene and I. A recent article says that since 50,000 BC, there have been 108 billion people inhabiting the earth (some billion today). Living in the 21st century, in the USA; how favored are we? Probably in the top 1/10 of 1%.”

Barbara Grossman

Barbara brings to the board over 25 years experience directing programs in housing, jobs development, and education, with a particular focus on urban communities. Also a member of MicroGrants’ Women’s Advisory Group she has been especially impressed by the high quality of MicroGrants’ partnerships and the support they provide grantees. This support not only informs MicroGrants’ “people” investments but also contributes to grantees’ success. “For the investors, risks are well-calculated and often rewarded, especially through the knowledge that the grantees have grown, developed, imagined and realized new possibilities of financial independence.”

Don Hall

Donald Hall, now retired, has worked as a financial analyst and stockbroker most of his life. In that activity he has had to sort out the genuine and possible from the hopeful and unlikely. Doing his own investigation he has supported numerous non-profits over the years, including Joe Selvaggio’s initial work as a social advocate, then PPL and then the 1% Club. Joe’s work has always met the test. Personally, he has an open, sympathetic heart, managed by an appropriate intelligence and discipline: and the organizations he has founded reflect the same considerations. I hope I can be useful on the MicroGrants board, as I am proud to serve on it.

Neda Kellogg

Neda is the Founding Executive Director of Project DIVA, a coaching and mentoring program for 6-12th grade girls in North Minneapolis. Neda has been working to empower young people to make informed academic, social, emotional, career, financial and health/wellness decisions since 2008. Her dedication and commitment to this mission have caused her to develop a powerful, ongoing program through Project DIVA that trains girls to realize their highest aspirations. Over the years Neda’s career has included being a licensed Youth Career Coach and Teen Outreach facilitator. Neda is also on the board of the Prodeo Academy.

Allen Lenzmeier

Allen currently serves on one public board (Best Buy Co.) and on 3 other non-profit boards, MN Orchestra, Pacer Advisory board, and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. He has been involved with the local Boys & Girls Club for 20 years and now serves on their foundation board. He has also served as chairman of the board and as a national trustee for 8 years. Allen graduated from Mankato State University in 1965 with a B.S. in Accounting and is a C.P.A. (not active). Over a period of 20 years, he worked for Price Waterhouse, National Car Rental, Tom Thumb Food Markets and Perkins Restaurants. In August1984, he started working at Best Buy and retired in 2007 as President/COO. Allen is married with 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

Tom Rock (secretary)

General Counsel, CCO and COO at EBF & Associates, LLP “Not a day goes by when I don’t shake my head at the vast income disparity between rich and poor. So often large, well-funded programs fail to get the money, or aid to the right pocket. The beauty of MicroGrants is that it recognizes the strength of helping one person at a time [and] it builds competence and confidence in the people being served. I also like to back winners, and Joe, you are a proven winner. MicroGrants has a bright future. I am eager to help advance its mission.”

Joe Selvaggio (board chair)

Throughout Joe’s forty-plus-year career Selvaggio has received more honors than we can list here. Some highlights are Founder of Project for Pride in Living-1972, Doctorate of Human Letters, honoris causa (Macalester College)-1991, Minnesotan of the Year (Minneapolis Monthly)-1997, Huffington Post’s Greatest Person of the Day (Huffington Post)-2011 “These $1000 Microgrants” are not ‘transfers of wealth’, but life-changing investments from the ‘haves’ to the ‘have-nots’ of potential. I hope we can educate more ‘haves’ to make this productive investment. I know of no better use for money.”

Sam Selvaggio

Sam is an independent advertising sales representative, one of the original MicroGrants board member and the son of Joe Selvaggio, our founder. Sam comments, “I am excited to be part of a non-profit that has a direct and immediate effect on lifting ‘people of potential’ out of poverty.” Sam has also worked with other Minneapolis-based non-profits such as Bolder Options and SOO Visual Arts Center (SOOVac).

Lynne Thompson

Lynne Thompson is an award-winning writer and communications professional at health care organizations in Minneapolis – including Park Nicollet Clinic and Fairview Health Services. I like taking a more active role in MicroGrants’ development and growth. It is informed governance that best supports small nonprofits. I trust that my experience in organizational planning could benefit MicroGrants.” Lynne also serves on the board of directors for Interest for Others Foundation. She is a past board chair for the Minnesota AIDS Project and board member for Cabrini House.

Tom Welch

Tom Welch is principal and owner of Palisade Asset Management, LLC, a registered investment advisory firm. Tom is on the investment committee that reviews and analyzes investment portfolios of clients, many of which are trust accounts for which our firm is the investment manager. Tom was President of BNC National Bank, Minnesota region, head of the Wealth Division for 3 regions (NC, MN and AZ), was a member of the Board of both BNC National Bank and BNC Corp., the publicly held holding company, responsible for all corporate and retail banking.

Advisors

An Advisor is a MicroGrants volunteer, with a special area of expertise, who has committed to give opinions and make suggestions to improve our performance. Advisors commit to about 2 phone calls, 4 emails and one face-to-face meeting per year, at their convenience. Advisors allow us to identify them in all our publications.

Community Advisory Council

The Community Council was started in 2012. They are the force behind the Grantees of the Year selections and award events each year. We send out a special THANK YOU to these committed volunteers who meet to discuss ideas and strategies for furthering MicroGrants’ success.